Fireproof shutter.



No. 782,468. v PATENTED FEB. 14, 1905.

F. C. ROBERTS. 4

' FIREPROOF SHUTTER. APPLICATION 3111M) MAR. 18, 1904.

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APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18, 1904.

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WITNESSES; INVBNTOR jaflola'lfx /urm ATTORNEY PATENTED FEB. 14, 1905.

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APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 18, 1904.

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UNTTED STATES Patented February 14, 19 05.

PATENT QFFICE..

FRANK C. ROBERTS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FIREPROOF SHUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 782,468, dated. February 14, 1905.

Application filed March 18, 1904. Serial No. 198,753.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK C.ROBERTS, acitizen of the United States, residing at Philadel-.

Shutters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to fireproof shutters or shutters which may be closed by the action of a fluid, and, if desired, the shutters while closed may be sprayed with water or other liquid.

It is the object of my invention toprovide fireproof shutters composed of metal which may be released by the action of a fluid-operated mechanism which normally holds the shutters raised, but which upon release permits or causes the shutters to drop in front of the windows, the fluid being sprayed upon the outside of the shutters as soon as the latter have been released.

The shutters may be applied to any number of windows, and the operating mechanism therefor may all be connected to a system of pipes which will carry the operating and spraying fluid to the shutter-operating mechanism. The fluid will be admitted to the pipes by one or more valves conveniently located in the building where the shutters are used, so that upon the actuation of any valve the shutters may be closed and sprayed. The piping system may be divided into sections, so that a certain number of shutters may be operated from one set of pipes and another set of shutters from another set of pipes, the sets of pipes being controlled by separate valves. The piping and valves may be arranged so that by the actuation of one or more valves one or more shutters may be closed and sprayed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation showing one form of my invention, the shutter being shown raised. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, showing the shutter in the raised position. Fig 3 is a similar section showing the shutter in its lowered position. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a second form of shutter-releasing mechanism, differing somewhat from that shown in Figs. 1-, 2, and 3. Fig. 5 is a the line 19 19 of Fig. 18.

vertical section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is athird form of my shutter-releasing -mechanism, and Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a front elevation of a fourth form of my invention, and Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a front elevation of afifth form of my invention, showing only a fragment of the shutter; and Fig. 11 is a vertical section taken on the line 11 11 of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a plan view, partly in section, taken on the line 12 12 of Fig. 1. Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view showing in plan view one end of the folded shutters shown in Figs. 2 and 9, together with a horizontal section of one of the guideways which guides the shutters as they are raised and lowered and holds them in place. Fig. 14: isan end view of the shutters shown in Figs. 2, 9, and 13, the shut ter being shown raised or folded. Fig. 15 is a fragmentary view showing the shutters illustrated in Fig. 14 in an extended or lowered L position. Fig. 16 is a front elevation of a sixth form of my invention. Fig. 17 is a vertical section on the line 17 17 of Fig. 16. Fig,

18 is a vertical section taken on the line 18 18 of Fig. 19. Fig. 19 is a vertical section on v Fig. 20 is a vertical section on the line 20 20 of Fig. 21, showing a seventh form of my invention. Fig. 21 is a front elevation of Fig. 20. Fig. 22 is adetail showing the manner of connecting the sections,

, of the shutter shown, in Fig. 20.

Referring now to the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, 1 designates a window provided with a shutter 2. The shutters are shown in Figs. 1 and 2m a folded position at the top of the opening in the wall 3, in which the Window is located. The shutter is supported on the rest or arm 4:, pivoted. at 5 to the hangers 6. (See Fig. 12.) At the top of the window-opening the casing 7 is provided with the vertical opening 8, in which reciprocates the piston 9. To the bottom of the piston is attached a piston-rod 10, whose lower end carries a pair of links 11. The lower end of these links is connected to the middle of the toggle-levers 12 and 13, the former being connected to the arm l t of the casing 7 and the latter to the detent or catch 15, pivoted to the casing 7 at 16 and provided Y with a hook or shoulder 17 The hook 17 is arranged to support the lug 18 on the front end of the rest 4 when the rest is in its horizontal position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, where the latter is shown supporting the folded or raised sh utter. The upper end of the opening 8 in the casing 7 is connected to the pipe 19, leading from the distributing-pipe 20, which may supply fluid for any number of windows, since any number of shutter-releasing mechanisms may be connected thereto. 21 represents horizontal pipes arranged at the upper portion of the window-opening and provided with a number of spraying-openings 22 on the side thereof. toward the window. The inner ends of the pipes 21 are secured in the casing 7 and communicate laterally with the opening 8 therein. The pipes 21 have their outer ends closed by the caps 23.

The shutter illustratedin Figs. 1, 2, and 3 j is shown in detail in Figs. 12, 13, 14, and 15.

This shutter is composed of sections 24, whose length is approximately the width of the window-opening. Each section 24 has riveted to its-under side the strap 25, which preferably extends from end toend thereof and has lateral extensions or pivots 26, provided with antifriction-rollers 27, which are seated in the vertical guideway 28 at the sides of the window-opening. The inner corners of the sections24 have riveted to their under sides lateral lugs or pivots 29. The pivot 26 at each end of each section is connected to the pivot 29 of the corresponding end of the next section below by means of the link 30. The upper section 24 extends only to the front, since a rear portion would engage with the upper part of the window-opening and preventthe pivotal movement of this section. The top section may have a rearward extension, provided its pivotal point is located sufliciently far from the top of the window-opening. The pivot 26 of the top section preferably forms the fixed support for the shutter. When the sections are folded, as in Fig. 14, they occupy but a small portion of the window-opening and interfere in no manner with the operation of the windows. The sections 24 will have such a width that when the shutter is lowered or suspended, as shown in Fig. 15, the top edge of the one section will be overlapped by the lower edge of the next section above. There should'be a suificient number of these sections to reach to the bottom of the windowopening when they have been released. The guideway 28 extends from the top of the win dow-opening to the bottom thereof and serves to guide and hold .the shutter in its place in front of the window.

The operation is as follows: Normally the shutters will be folded and supported by the rest 4, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the rest being held in a vertical position by means of the detent or catch 15 interlocking with the lug 18 on the rest. Normally the toggle-levers 12 and 13 will lie in a straight line, as shown in Fig. 1, and the piston will be at its upper position, as shown in Fig. 2. When water under pressure is admitted to the pipe 20, the

piston 9 is forced down, causing the togglelevers to become bent. The bending of the toggle-levers withdraws the catch 15 from the lug 18, whereupon the rest 4 swings on its pivot 5 into the position shown in Fig. 3. The shutter being now unsupported unfolds or drops, so as to assume the position shown in Figs. 3and 15, the antifriction-rollers 27 traveling down the guides 28. As the piston 9 moves from its upper to its lower position it uncovers the ports from the opening 8 into the spraying-pipes 21, whereupon the water will be sprayed upon-the outside of the shutter to keep it cool, whereupon the shutter will not become so hot as to be warped out of position or to set on fire the woodwork of the window-casing or other material near the window. It Will be noticed that the piston 9 is at the'same time avalve for opening and closing the ports of the spraying-pipes and a motor for operating the detent or catch for releasing the shutter.

Referring now to Figs. 4and 5, Ishow aform of shutter 2 diflerent from that shown in the preceding figures. The shutter shown in Fig. 5 consists of a number of sections 24, the edge of one section being hinged to one edge of the nextlower section, as shown, the section being hinged and operated in a manner very similar to the folds of a bellows. The middle of the sections is provided with antifriction-rollers 27, which lie in the guideway 28. I provide a casing 7, in which is pivotally supported the blade or arm 9, capable of-oscillating on the axis 31, having the extensions 32 external to each end of the casing; Secured to each of the extensions 32 is a detent or catch 15, provided with a hook or shoulder 17 which supports the outer end of the rest 4, pivoted at 5 to the hangers 6, only one being shown. The inner ends of the spraying-pipes 21 are secured to the outer ends of the water-passage 33, lying below the casing 7 and communicating with the interior thereof by means of the port 34. The supply-pipe 19 is secured to the upper part of the casing and communi cates with the interior thereof. The blade 9 normally covers the port 34; but when water is admitted through the pipe 19 it pushes the blade downward away from the port and at the same time oscillates the axis 31, the extensions 32, and the detents 15, so that the latter are removed from beneath the rest 4, whereupon the shutter 2 is released in an obvious manner. The shutter immediately falls in front of the window and the water is sprayed upon the same from the pipes 21 and the passage 33.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7 the parts are very similar to those of Figs. 4 and 5.

window.

In Figs. 6 and 7 the rest for the shutter consists of a pair of levers 4 supported between their ends on the shaft 5 carried by the hangers 6 depending from the casing. The ends of the bottom section of the shutter 2 being supported by the inner ends of therest 4 the outer ends of the levers are in engagement with the lower ends of the detents or catches 15 These catches are operated in exactlythe same manner as the catches of Figs. 4 and 5. When water is admitted to the pipe 19, the blade 9 is forced to the left, thereby caus ing the port 34 to be uncovered and the detents 15 to be removed from above the outer ends of the rest 4 The result is that the shutter at once falls in front of the window, and the water is sprayed upon the shutter, as in the other forms of my invention.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, I provide the rest 4 pivoted between the hangers 6 depending from the bracket 35. One end of the rest supports the shutter 2, while the other is held in position by the detent 15 having the hook l7 engaging with the ing 18 on the rest 4 This detent is pivoted to the bracket 35 and is connected by link 11 to the piston rod 10 to which the' piston 9 is attached. The water entering through the pipe 19 operates the piston-rod and the link in the same manner as in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The movement of the piston to the right removes the detent from over the lug 18 and admits water to the passage 33 and the pipes 21 in the same manner as in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

Referring now to Figs. 10 and 11 ,the shutter has the same form as shown in Figs. 5 and 7 andthe vertical piston and piston-rod, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The casing 7 is provided with a bracket or hanger 6*, to which is pivoted the lever or arm 36. The lower edge of the bottom slat of the shutter is provided with the rod 37 which extends out beyond the "sides of the shutter, as shown in Fig. 10,

where the one of the outer ends of the rod 37 is shown resting on the support or bracket 37, secured to the side of the window-opening. The free end of the arm 36 is beveled, so that its upper edge is longer than its lower edge and overhangs slightly the lower section of the shutter. The piston-rod 10 has its lower end resting upon the arm 36. The opening 8 in the casing communicates with the passage or port 34, which leads to the sprayingpipes 21. When water is admitted to the pipe 19, the piston 9* will be pushed down, causing the arm 36 to be swung downwardly. As the free end of the arm is beveled, as described, it will force the shutter off the support 37, whereupon the shutter will fall in front of the At the same time water will be admitted to the spraying-pipes and the shutter will be cooled, as in the other forms of my in- Vention.

Referring now to Figs. 16 to 19, the winthe middle of the Window.

-yond the outer wheel 39 of each section.

casing 7 above the piston 9 dow 1 may be covered by the shutter-sections 24 supported on the inclined tracks 38, having their inner ends lowest and meeting above tions are suspended on antifriction rollers or wheels 39 and are held laterally away from the window by means-of cords or cables 40, each of which passes-over a sheave 41', located be- One end' of each cable or cord is secured to a shutter-section, and the other end is secured to the winding-drum 42, located above the window.

The drum is provided with a ratchet-wheel 43,

normally held from rotation in a direction to release the shutter-sections by the pawl or dog 44, oscillatory on the pivot or pin' 45. The end of the dog opposite that which engages the ratchet-wheel 43 is connected by the pair of links 46 to the lower end of the piston-rod 10 of the piston 9", slidable in the casing 7. The pipe 19 leads into the opening-8 in the The port or passage 34 leads from the opening 8 to the pipe The shutter-sec 47, whose lower end leads to the sprinklerpipes 21. When water is admitted to the pipe 19, it pushes the piston 9 downwardly. This action of the piston causes the pawl 44 to release the ratchet-w'heel 43, whereupon the shutter-section 2 will run down the tracks 38, so asto cover the window. The pist'n in this action passes below the port 34 and permits the water to enter the spraying-pipes 21' and to be sprayed upon the shutter, as shown in Fig.17-.

Referring now to Figs. 20.and 21, the pipe 19, the casing 7 the axis 31, the blade 9','the extensions 32, the catches or arms 15 the port 34, the passage 33, the hangers 6 and the rest 4 are substantially as shown on Figs.

ter sticks after being released by the rest 4 (Shown on Fig. 20.) The weight 48 is guided in guideways 51 (only one being shown) at the sides of the window-opening. 49 is located above the window, and the shut- The shutter is The roller ter travels down through the slot 52 in thetop of the window-opening.

In Figs. 4, 7 and 20 I show the casing 7, provided on its under side with a port 53, which leads from the interior thereof to the outside to drain the same.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3, 11, 12, and 19, and particularly to Fig. 12, it will be notedthat the piston or valve-stem is cross-shaped,while the passage in which it reciprocates is round,

whereby the water may be drained from the casings through the angular spaces between the casings and the said stems.

On Fig. 3 I show in dotted lines a cord 53, which passes over the sheave 54 at the top of the window-opening and has one end attached to the bottom of the shutter. By pulling on the cord the shutter may be hoisted to its raised position. This cord and sheave may be applied in all easeswhere the folding shutter is used.

All the shutters willpreferably be iron, but they may be of other material, and the fluid used will preferably be water; but I do not wish to be limited thereto.

Although I have described the several'parts of my invention in considerable detail, I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the specific details shown, as many changes may be made while still retaining the spirit thereof.

My shutters may be used to cover doors and other openings.

Some of my claims are not limited to any definite means for releasing or causing the shutter to close, and in these claims I do not intend to be limited to fluid-operated means, as other meanssuch as electricity, steam, air, &c.may be used.

It would be possible to have the blade 9 close a switch which controls an electric motor driving the drum or roller 49. The detent-arms shown would be modified to carry the movable member of the usual switch.

' Having described my invention, I claim 1. A shutter, means for holding the same withdrawn, a fluid-operated means for releasing said shutter, and means made operative by said fluid-operated means for directing a cooling fluid upon the shutter.

2. A shutter, means for holding the same withdrawn, a fluid-operated means for releasing said shutter, and means made operative by said fluid-operated means for directing upon the shutter the same fluid that operates the said fluid-operated means.

3. A shutter, means for holding the same withdrawn, a spraying-pipe for directing a cooling fluid on said shutter, and a valve-motor operable first for releasing said holding means and afterward for permitting said fluid to pass into said spraying-pipe.

4. A shutter, a rest for supporting the same, a catch for holding the rest in a position to support the shutter and a fluid-operated means for removing the catch from said holding position.

5. A shutter, means for holding the same withdrawn, a fluid-operated means for releasing the said shutter, and means for directing a cooling fluid upon the shutter, after its support has been released.

Signed at Philadelphia this 15th day of March, 1904.

FRANK C. ROBERTS.

Witnesses:

L. KoYDnR LAOHMAN, RANDOLPH H. l\/IILLER. 

